Twin bag loading device



Jan. 13; 1970 c, MONSEES vET AL 3,488,916

TWIN BAG LOADING DEVICE 2 Shee cs s'neet 1 Filed Dec.

Wilm

JAIL

INVENTORS CLAUDE MO/VSEES McCm.

By WILL/AM flaw/MM ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1970 c, E, Mog E ET AL 3,488,916

TWIN BAG LOADING DEVICE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

L m m 56 N W S C R E N M 0 V 0 W EM M fm UM M Y DU 72 g AW if A m ms v 5 x x mw m w wullwnw. m J M% United States Patent U.S. Cl. 53124 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bag making machine forms a continuous tube from strip material by cyclically drawing the material through a tube former pivoted to swing in a vertical plane. The former swings between a first tilted position and a second more nearly vertical position. A clam-shell type of pick-up device is mounted on the former in line with the formed tube and picks up a pair of product filled bags when in the first position, by gripping the side of the pair, and squeezes them to a size and shape to pass through the tube former. In the second position the clam-shell device is opened slightly to permit the pair of bags to slide through the former and into the tube, assisted by a jet of air. Sealing jaws cyclically cross seal the tube, and sever the same, between successive pairs of filled bags therein.

Cross reference to related application This application is directed to a modification of the Tilting Bag Forming and Filling Machine more fully shown and described in our copending application Ser. No. 669,797, filed Sept. 22, 1967. Reference is made to said copending application for a more detailed description of the basic machine.

Background of the invention The present invention is in the field of bag forming and filling machines and particularly machines for inserting a pair of product-filled bags into an outer bag as the latter is formed.

At the present time it is common to market potato chips and similar products by inserting, often by hand, a pair of separate filled bags into a single outer bag. Often the outer bag is formed by wrapping bag material about the adjacent bags of the pair but such methods are slow and lack uniformity of the product.

Summary of the invention The invention herein comprises a bag forming machine wherein a strip of bag forming material is cyclically drawn through a generally tubular tube former and sealed with a longitudinal seam. Conveyor means deliver a pair of product filled bags, in side-by-side relation to a pick-up station and pick-up means then embrace and gently squeeze the pair to a sectional size and shape to readily enter the formed tube whereupon the grip of the squeezing means is relaxed slightly and the pair of bags then caused to slide from the squeezing means into the formed tube and the latter is then cross sealed and severed from the tube.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the present invention, certain parts being shown in diflierent relative positions;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the machine of FIG. 1 with certain parts omitted; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

Description of a preferred embodiment The machine of the present invention comprises a basic machine structure substantially identical to that described in the aforementioned copending application. In general, however, the basic machine comprises a suitable framework 2 including an enclosed housing portion 4. A dolly or carriage 6 supports a supply roll of bag forming material which is guided from the supply roll over suitable guide and controlling rollers (not shown herein) to a guiding and forming collar 10 constituting a portion of a tube former. The guiding collar 10 is supported by a tubular guide or former tube 12 mounted on a frame 14 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the machine frame 2 about a horizontal axis by pivot means 16. The tube former comprising the collar 10 and former tube -12 is a known device wherein the material roll 8 is guided over the outer surface of collar 10, then downwardly over a transition edge to the inside of the former tube 12 and is drawn from the lower end thereof as a formed tube 18. Preferably, the former tube 12 is of generally oval shape in cross section. A pair of guide rods 20 is fixedly mounted on the frame 14 by means of a suitable clamp structure 22 and extend downwardly therefrom, generally parallel to former tube 12, and slidably through bushings 24 on a tilting beam 26. The beam 26 is pivotally mounted on the machine frame 2 for tilting movement about a horizontal axis defined by pivot means 28. A suitable crank mechanism (not shown) swings the beam 26 between the two positions shown in dotted line in FIG. 1 and identified as a first position A and a second position B. A pair of jaws 30 and 32 is slidably mounted on the beam 26 for movement toward and from each other. The jaws 30 and 32 include means for gripping the tube 18, for cross sealing the same, and for severing the same after cross sealing. Within the upper portion 34 of the housing enclosure 4, the machine includes a timing shaft having cams or the like thereon for initiating sequential functions of the machine in timed relation to the cyclical swinging movement of the beam 26.

Briefly, when the parts are in the position shown at B, in which the tube 12 is nearly vertical, the jaws 30 and 32 are caused to close on the tube 18 and they flatten and heat seal the same along a transverse zone. The jaws remain closed as the beam 26 swings to the position A and during this movement tube forming material is drawn through the former while additional sealing means (not shown herein) seal overlapping edges of the bag forming material to form a longitudinal sealed seam and when position A is reached, the portion of the tube below the closed jaws is severed within the transverse zone and the parts swing back to position B after the jaws 30 and 32 are moved apart. The same cycle is then repeated.

The machine structure and function described up to now are all more fully shown and described in the aforementioned copending, application and a more detailed description here is not believed necessary.

Supported on the machine frame 2 is a dual channel conveyor 36, including an endless belt 38 adapted to transport two lines of product-filled bags 40 toward the tube former. A pivoted gate frame 42 is pivotally mounted on the conveyor frame at 44 and includes a downwardly extending gate plate 46. A pneumatic motor 47 having a cylinder 48 is pivotally supported from an upper frame member 50 and includes a piston rod 52 pivotally connected at 54, to the gate frame 42. With the gate in the lower position shown in FIG. 1, the product filled bags 40 are arrested until pneumatic motor 47 is actuated to swing the gate plate 46 upwardly. This permits the leading pair of bags 40 to move forwardly and tilt onto and slide down chute 56 onto a laterally curved cradle 58 defining a pick-up station. The cradle 58 includes a base portion 59 which is supported on the machine frame 2 by a bracket structure 60 and in fixed position thereon. As shown, the cradle 58 is held in a tilted position substantially parallel to the axis of the former tube 12 when the latter is in its so-called first position, position A of the drawings. The cradle 58 is also provided with a stop-plate 62 to hold the pair of bags 40 thereon against further sliding movement toward the tube former.

The bracket structure 22 which supports the guide rods 20 supports those rods in position to extend upwardly beyond the bracket 22, as shown in FIG. 1. Fixedly mounted on the upper ends of the rods 20 is a further bracket structure comprising elements 64 and 66 in which a pair of parallel shafts 68 is journalled. As shown in FIG. 3, the shafts 68 are laterally spaced and each is provided with a pair of downwardly extending arms 70 fixed thereon. The pair of arms 70 on each shaft 68 are secured to a generally semicylindrical element or pick-up member 72. The shafts 68, arms 70 and members 72 may be termed a clam shell device. The parts are so dimensioned and the cradle 58 is so curved that the lower edges of the pick-up members 72 are close to the surface of the cradle 58 and swing arcuately there along as the shafts 68 are respectively oscillated in opposite directions. A pneumatic motor 73 comprises a cylinder 74 pivotally mounted on one of the arms 70 on a pivot 76 and a piston rod 78 pivotally connected to the other arm 70 by a pivot 80. It will thus be apparent that extension of the pneumatic motor will cause the arms 70 to swing outwardly away from each other to the dotted line positions shown in FIG. 3 whereas shortening of the pneumatic motor causes the arms 70 and pick-up members 72 to swing toward each other to the full line position of FIG. 3. Suitable conduits 82 direct air pressure into one or the other end of the pneumatic motor to effect either extension or shortening thereof. Each of the arms 70 is also provided with an adjustable stop means 84 thereon which constitute limiting abutments engageable with each other to limit the extent of swinging movement of the arms 70 toward each other. As shown, the cradle 58 is provided with a fixed central rib or bar 86 to ensure that the pick-up elements 72 are symmetrically positioned with respect to the cradle 58 when they are swung toward each other to the full line position of FIG. 3. This assures alignment of the pair of bags 40 with the former tube 12.

Also fixed to each shaft 68 is an upwardly extending crank arm 88, each having a roller 90 journalled On its outer end. Fixedly carried by the machine frame 2, in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a bracket 92 on which a pointed cam member 94 is secured, for a purpose to be described later. When the pneumatic motor 73 is extended to its greatest length, the pick-up members 72 are separated a relatively greater distance to substantially the relative positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, with rollers 90 substantially abutting each other.

It is to be noted that the pick-up means, including the semicylindrical members 72, are symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of the former tube 12 and are always maintained in that relationship. Thus, when the pick-up means are in the closed position shown by full lines in FIG. 3, the entire space therein is in axial alignment with the formed tube 18.

When the parts are in the second position, B, the pickup members 72 and the tube 18 are in alignment with a nozzle 96 fixedly carried by the upper frame member 50, the nozzle 96 directs a jet of compressed air down- Wardly along the axis of the pick-up means and the formed tube 18. Means, not shown, for selectively directing air into one end or the other of the pneumatic motors 48 and 74, are provided on the control shaft previously referred to and described in our copending application.

It is to be understood that the pneumatic motors are operated in timed relation to cyclic operation of the basic machine to operate in the manner and sequence now to be described.

After the parts reach the full line position (position B) of FIG. 1, the pick-up members 72 are partly opened by actuating motor 73, which brings rollers to the sides of cam 94 which permits the pick-up members to open only enough to release their grip on a pair of filled bags 40 so that the latter can slide downwardly, assisted by the jet of air from nozzle 96, through the former tube 12 and the formed tube 18 to the bottom of the latter in the position shown at C in FIG. 1, resting against the lowermost cross seal 100. While the parts are in this position, the pneumatic motor 48 is operated to lift gate 46 and permit another pair of filled bags 40 to slide onto the cradle 58 at the pick-up station and pneumatic motor 73 continues to urge members 72 to separate toward their FIG. 3 dotted line position, but limited by cam 94 to the slightly open position shown in FIG. 2. The jaws 30 and 32 are then closed on the formed tube 18 above the filled bags in position C and tightly gripped the tube 18 while heat sealing the same in a transverse direction. With the tube 18 so gripped by the jaws, the beam 26 swings from the position B to the position A, during which rollers 90 pass otf the point of cam 94 and pick-up members 72 open fully, thus drawing additional bag forming material through the tube former and tilting the parts to the position A wherein the pick-up elements 72 are still in the open position and on opposite sides of the pair of bags 40 resting on cradle 58. With the parts in this position a cross seal just formed by the jaws 30 and 32 is severed and the end portion of tube 18 containing the pair of bags is now cross sealed at both ends and is severed from the tube 18 and delivered by gravity to a suitable receiver. The jaws 30 and 32 are caused to separate while the parts are in position A. Also while the parts are in position A, the pneumatic motor 73 is actuated to move the pickup members 72 toward each other to the full line position of FIG. 3 wherein they embrace the pair of filled bags 40 on cradle 58 and gently squeeze the same to substantially the outline shown in FIG. 3. The size and shape of that outline is such that it is slightly smaller than but similar to the cross sectional shape of the former tube 12. It is further to be noted that the bags 40, filled with products such as potato chips, are somewhat compressed along their abutting surfaces so that the elements therein interlock with each other to a degree and ensure both bags sliding simultaneously when released.

The pick-up members 72 are maintained, by air pressure in pneumatic motor 73, in the gripping and pressing positions shown in FIG. 3 until the parts reach the final position B. As the parts reach the final position B, the motor 73 is actuated to tend to separate pick-11p members 72, as already described. The grip on the pair of bags is thus loosened when the parts reach the more nearly vertical position described and gravity acting on the pair of bags causes them to descend into the tube former and the formed tube 18. In this position the jet of air issuing from nozzle 66 assists and ensures such sliding movement. After the pair of bags has been deposited in the tube 18 in the manner just described, the parts are then in the relative positions shown at B in FIG. 1, with the justdeposited pair of bags 40 occupying the position C and the described cycle of operations is repeated.

Obviously, after the gate 46 has been raised by pneumatic motor 48, the timing shaft previously referred to causes the gate 46 to be again lowered before the next succeeding pair of filled bags is delivered by conveyor 36 to the stop position. Thus, only a single pair of productfilling bags is delivered to the cradle 58 at each cycle of operation.

If desired, the jet of compressed air issuing from nozzle 96 may be continuous since it is effective to assist in sliding a pair of filled bags into tube 18 only when the parts are in position B. However, if desired, the compressed air supply to nozzle 96 may be cut off by the previously mentioned control shaft except when the parts are in position B.

While a single specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, the same is merely illus trative of the principles involved and other modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine having a tube former for forming a tube of predetermined sectional shape and means for cyclically drawing bag forming material through said former and cross sealing the tube formed thereby, the improvement comprising: means for delivering a pair of productfilled bags to a pick-up station in side-by-side relation; pick-11p means for gripping the sides of said pair of bags, squeezing said pair to substantially the size and sectional shape of said tube former, and for aligning said pair with said tube former; and release means operable in timed relation to said cyclically operable means for releasing the grip of said pick-up means on the sides of said pair whereby said pair may slide freely into and through said tube former and into the tube formed thereby.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 including means for directing a jet of air onto an end of said pair of bags to impel them through said tube former and into said formed tube.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tube former is mounted for swinging movement between a first inclined position and a second and more nearly vertical position; said pick-up station being fixedly positioned and said pick-up means being mounted in fixed relation to said tube former for swinging movement therewith, said pick-up means being at said pick-up station when said tube former is in said first position; and means for actuating said release means when said tube former is in said second position.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 including means fixed on said machine in alignment with said pick-up means and tube former, when in said second position, for directing a jet of air onto an end of said pair of bags to assist gravity in moving them through said tube former and into said formed tube.

5. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said pickup means comprises generally semi-cylindrical members adapted to grippingly embrace and squeeze said pair of bags; mounting means movably supporting said pick-up members in a fixed relation to said tube former; operating means for moving said members toward and from each other in timed relation to cyclical operation of said machine; said release rneans comprising fixed release means on said machine positioned in the path of movement of said mounting means at said second position for limiting movement of said members away from each other to only a small amount while said operating means urge said members apart.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said operating means comprises a pneumatic motor whereby said members are yieldably urged toward and held in gripping relation to said pair of bags.

7. A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said members is pivotally mounted relative to said tube former for swinging movement toward and from the other; said mounting means comprising a crank arm fixed relative to each member and engageable with said fixed means.

8. In a machine having a tube former for forming a tube of predetermined sectional shape and means for cyclically drawing bag forming material through said former and cross sealing the tube formed thereby, the improvement comprising: means for delivering a pair of productfilled bags to a pick-up station in side-by-side relation; pick-up means for gripping the sides of said pair of bags. squeezing said pair to substantially the size and sectional shape of said tube former, and for aligning said pair With said tube former; and means for applying a force to said pair of product filled bags in a direction to push the same from said pick-up means into said tube former.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1960 Pike 53182 X 3/1965 Klein 53182 US. Cl. X.R. 53-180, 258 

